"We did not get Steve Buscemi for Neil's part," he mock-complained to Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb on Today about securing the cast for his very R-rated comedy A Million Ways to Die in the West, which he co-wrote, directed and stars in. "So we had to settle for [Neil Patrick Harris]."

"I went out to Paul Rudd, and he said 'no,'" the Family Guy creator revealed. "I'm like the poor man's Paul Rudd."

MacFarlane is now starring opposite Charlize Theron. "I've got to say, it was the most intimidating thing when I started," he said about working with the gorgeous Oscar winner. But "she's so cool, she's so fantastic...the world's greatest laugher. She makes things that aren't that funny seem funnier."

MacFarlane added: "She's the kind of person who makes everyone around her better. For me, someone going into this as a relative virgin, she just put me at ease from the get-go and I felt like I'd been working with her for years."

And who better to play his love interest?

"They promoted the raunch factor, which is there," he said. "It is, believe it or not—you go to see the movie from start to finish—it is a romantic comedy of sorts. As shocking as that may sound. It is an old-fashioned Western in that regard."

Later Theron spoke to Collider about Mcfarlane: "You have to be able to feel like you can play way outside of the box. If you're with a great filmmaker and someone you can trust, that's encouraged, and Seth was that kind of filmmaker and co-star. Every day felt like endless possibilities, but at the same time, there was a really good foundation that we had laid because of him, for two weeks leading up to the film...He was very clear and very precise, but he's a fun guy to be around. It was definitely not like going to the dentist...every day."

In the meanwhile, A Million Ways to Die in the West will hits theatres May 30.